Table 4-1. RAID Controller Physical Disk States (continued)

Status

Mode

Description

Physical Disk

 

 

 

Status LED

 

 

 

 

Pending

Assigned,

A Self-Monitoring Analysis and

Green flashing

Failure

Unassigned,

Reporting Technology (SMART) error

(500 ms), Amber

 

Hot Spare in

is detected on the physical disk in the

(500 ms), and

 

use, or Hot

indicated slot.

Off (1000ms)

 

Spare standby

 

 

Offline

Not applicable

The physical disk has either been spun

Green flashing

 

 

down or had a rebuild aborted by

(3000 ms), Amber

 

 

user request.

(3000 ms), and

 

 

 

Off (3000ms)

Identify

Assigned,

The physical disk is being identified.

Green flashing

 

Unassigned,

 

(250 ms)

 

Hot Spare in

 

 

 

use, or Hot

 

 

 

Spare standby

 

 

 

 

 

 

If a disk drive rebuild fails because of a source drive failure or because the drive is too small, the MDSM reports a failure of the physical disk even though the LED state on the drive indicates the rebuild was aborted (green for 3 seconds, amber for 3 seconds, then off for 3 seconds).

Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology

SMART monitors the internal performance of all physical disk components to detect faults indicating the potential for physical disk failure. SMART uses this information to report whether failure is imminent so that a physical disk can be replaced before failure occurs. The storage array monitors all attached drives and notifies you when a predicted failure is reported by a physical disk.

Virtual Disks and Disk Groups

1Organize the physical disks into disk groups.

2Create virtual disks within these disk groups.

3Provide host server access.

4Create mappings to associate the virtual disks with the host servers.

NOTE: Host server access must be created before mapping virtual disks.

Planning: MD3600f Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts

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Dell MD3620F, MD3600f owner manual Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology, Virtual Disks and Disk Groups

MD3620F, MD3600f specifications

Dell's MD3620F and MD3600F storage arrays are designed for businesses seeking dependable, high-performance storage solutions tailored to meet the demands of modern data management. These models offer a blend of scalability, efficiency, and advanced features, making them well-suited for a range of applications, from virtual environments to critical database operations.

One of the primary features of the MD3620F and MD3600F is their support for a hybrid storage architecture. This approach allows organizations to combine flash storage with traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) to optimize performance and cost. The MD3620F focuses heavily on all-flash configurations, delivering exceptional speed and lower latency, ideal for I/O-intensive workloads.

Scalability is another hallmark of these storage solutions. The MD3600F allows users to scale up to 120 drives, providing robust capacity to meet growing data needs. The MD3620F is engineered for environments where data availability and speed are paramount, with support for high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) and consistent performance under stress.

In terms of data management, both systems integrate with Dell’s proprietary software, which enhances operational efficiency through features like automated tiering. This technology optimizes data placement between different storage types based on access frequency, ensuring that hot data is readily available while reducing costs associated with less critical data.

Reliability is crucial for businesses that depend on their storage systems. The MD3620F and MD3600F come equipped with advanced data protection mechanisms, such as RAID support, which safeguards against data loss, and snapshot capabilities that provide point-in-time copies of data. Moreover, these solutions include hot-swappable components, ensuring minimal downtime for maintenance and repairs.

Connectivity is also a strong suit of these storage arrays. They support multiple connectivity options, including SAS and iSCSI, allowing for flexible integration into existing IT infrastructures. This adaptability enhances their appeal to a wide range of enterprise environments.

In summary, the Dell MD3620F and MD3600F stand out as robust storage solutions with a combination of hybrid and all-flash configurations, scalability, advanced data management tools, and enhanced reliability features. These characteristics make them ideal for organizations looking to enhance their data storage capabilities while maintaining high performance and efficiency.